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Hello from 'Ampshir'

Neiljohn

Neiljohn

Apprentice Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2025
Posts
3
Location
'Ampshir'
First Name
Neil
I'm Neil, recently retired and getting into pen turning as part of the woodturning hobby, I also need to make a fountain pen for our youngest as apparently it's a requirement at the RN officers college Dartmouth, so whilst on holiday recently I bought some Microberlinia brazzavillensis (Zebrano) from the Wareham Woodshop, along with some bowl blanks, and some pen kits and a mandrel from various on-line suppliers. Made my first pen today, a slimline twist ball point, well two actually, one for me and one for my good lady, a bit stressful as I've not touched my wood lathe for a number of years and had split one blank I'd cut already, but didn't turn out too badly, hopefully will get better with practice, before I do my sons pen.
 
flexi

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,633
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
Hello and welcome to the forum, enjoy your stay, we're a friendly bunch and have all been starters once!:banana:
 
Neiljohn

Neiljohn

Apprentice Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2025
Posts
3
Location
'Ampshir'
First Name
Neil
howsitwork? said:
welcome Neil

take your time and practice first. I also recommend you treat yourself to a pair of vernier calipers and check a lot when making the fountain pen.

have fun
Click to expand...
Fun, oh yes I had some, made a batch of slim-lines and discovered CA isn't good for barrel gluing, neither was epoxy, but Gorilla non-foaming works well. Made 3 sets of barrel blanks and turned them selecting the best set for his pen, making a second fountain pen and a roller ball for me with the others. As I worked in engineering I have several sets of calipers, vernier and digital, but prefer to work by eye to the bushings. Thankfully as he returned safely, and months early from his most recent deployment, I'd got it finished and he's most pleased. My wife's friends have started ordering slim-lines having seen her pen, so I've just had to order more kits!
 
Dalboy

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,739
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Hi and welcome. I have used all three methods to fit tubes. Superglue, epoxy and polyurethane type glues and found all good for securing them.
The problem with superglue is I keep sticking everything else around when using it or even having to hold it for ages except when using an accelerator.
 


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